Study the Graduate Diploma in Fashion (Design and Technology) and be a part of a creative team that designs and develops rich visual costume and fashion experiences. You will develop practical skills in your desired field, while designing and developing research driven designs with an end user focus. The course is designed to be customised to your creative needs. You will get opportunities to work on both solo and collaborative projects so you are exposed to a wide variety of skills and experiences which will prepare you for rewarding and creative future in either fashion or costume design.
One year full-time
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.
The direct materials fees cover the fabrics, tools and equipment needed to achieve the requirements of the programme. Some students may choose to purchase other items themselves on top of these fees.
International Fees can be found here.
The Graduate Diploma in Fashion Design is a one-year intensive programme designed for learners who have a degree in a related field or have industry experience. This qualification allows the learner to express your creativity using the latest techniques and technology.
You will engage and develop skills from day one in team work and collaboration, building critical creative problem-solving skills vital to working as a creative designer. You will develop practical skills in your desired field which you can apply to developing a range of fashion or costumed products with a personalised focus.
This course focuses on developing your creativity and technical skills to develop complex creative projects. You will be able to custom your course to gain the skills a specialised are, you could chose to work with costuming for film, animation or game design or develop a fashion collection designed with a customer base in mind.
While technology moves rapidly the skills in critical thinking, research, development, and leadership are universally transferable and will give students a foundation which will endure the changing technologies.
As well as a range of industrial and specialised machines our learners will also be developing design skills using software such as Clo 3D/Marvellous Design, Substance suite and the adobe collection.
Compulsory papers
GD730 Internship
Students will engage in activities which further develop their skills as professional creative sector practitioners. They will undertake an industry related internship(s) gaining a clear understanding of organisational and operational requirements and contribute as directed within that environment. Students will develop and refine an internship proposal/s that clearly identifies relevant skills and plan and manage activities to achieve these. Students will complete an in-depth evaluation of the internship experience based on documentation collected over the duration of their internship. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the requirements of Health and Safety in the workplace.
GD701 Studio Project 3
Students will build knowledge and skills in communications and management strategies to develop or produce a creative project. Students will develop individual or collaborative projects with peers or external partners but must implement individual processes with legal considerations. Students will plan and implement pipelines/workflows that embed researched and evaluated ethics, health, safety, and wellbeing procedures. Students will identify audience to ensure all concepts and designs are user-centric and have clear approaches to brand development and product release. Students will critically analyse and execute transmedia approaches to release their final project.
BSA 509 - Introduction to Computer Aided Design
Students will be introduced to the latest computer aided design software to develop efficient and sustainable digital fashion workflows. Students will research how a digital workflow can speed up production and increase ethical practices within the industry. Students will design within a digital workflow and explore fabrication options to minimize waste and optimize production values. Students will explore applications for technology within the fashion, costume, and entertainment industries.
Elective papers
Choose one of the following (subject to programme manager's approval):
BSA 510 - Fashion Design & Production 1
Students will be introduced to the basic principles and elements of fashion and the traditional design production process. Students will also research and apply skills in block drafting and garment construction techniques for a variety of garment types, whilst becoming familiar with industrial machinery and terminology used in fashion construction. Students will then expand their knowledge and creativity through textile exploration, manipulation and experimentation using a variety of sourced textiles and techniques. Finally, students will utilise the design process and knowledge gained to design, interpret, develop, refine, draft, and produce their own creative and unique range of quality garments for a specific target audience.
BSA 610 - Fashion Design & Production 2
Students will extend their knowledge and develop skills in specialised pattern making and garment construction techniques using both conventional and unconventional methods. Students will design and produce original mini garment collections from concept through to completion by implementing specialised and unconventional techniques throughout all stages of the process. Students will also explore and discuss historical and innovative practices within the fashion industry, relating and applying relevant options to their own design and production projects.
Graduates opportunities will depend on learner focus but can include creative roles within the fashion design industry, custume desinger for a wide range of creative industries such as games, animation, theatre and film.
Entry is open to degree graduates who have graduated from a bachelor’s degree programme or those who can demonstrate equivalent, relevant, practical professional or educational experience in a related discipline.
Portfolio Requirements
Applicants for the Graduate Diploma in Fashion (Design and Technology) are required to submit a portfolio of their work with their applications and may be asked for a written submission.
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States; or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment.
IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE) TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18) Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill. OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic) Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42 Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band
* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current
To be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Fashion (Design and Technology), students will have been credited with all required papers and electives as specified in the schedule of papers. The total credit value of the Graduate Diploma in Fashion (Design and Technology) is 120 credits.